Page 105 of Lucas & Melissa Falling in Love
“Ah, Melissa. Here you are. Exactly the person I was looking for. I want you to meet Alden Jones.”
Alden turns to me and I see the cagey smile of acknowledgment in spite of his polite greeting.
“I already know Alden, Bert. I’m surprised he didn’t mention to you that we’ve had dealings in the past.”
“Really? Oh, I can see why he didn’t,” Bert says. “I never mentioned you by name. “Then this will work out even better than I thought.”
I’m not ready to burst poor Bert’s bubble just yet as I watch Alden giving me a calculating look, like he’s wondering when I’m going to lower the boom and is about to scheme a spin.
“I’m not so sure about that, Bert.” I don’t elaborate just yet.
Bert frowns, but Alden takes over
“How about if you and I have a chat?” Alden says. “I can explain the deal to you, make sure you understand how mutually beneficial it will be.”
Bert says, “That’s a good idea. Why don’t you use the den? I’m sure George won’t mind.” He points us in the direction of the hallway. While I’m figuring out how far I want to play this, Alden takes my arm and whispers close.
“You’ll really want to hear what I have to say before you shut me down,” he says.
I’m curious about what he has up his sleeve and, oddly fearless, almost detached, as if I’ve turned into Super Melissa, stronger than a scheming lawyer and impervious to sneaky conniving and lies. The line about keeping your enemies close pops into my mind as I follow him into the den. I leave the door open in case someone wants to overhear us, like Lucas, or even Bert.
My imagination runs wild with what possible proposition he has that could convince me to work with him.
He turns to me and says, “I think you’ll realize you have no choice but to accept my proposal when you hear my incentive.”
“Spill it, Alden.”
“I had never realized it before, but I overheard something at the party today. Something your good friend Margo was saying to her good husband, George.” He stops and smiles because he’s a taunter. I remember that from my last meeting with him. He’d dared me to bring the contract to another attorney to see if I could get out of it. Of course I had and of course I couldn’t.
Right now, though, he holds no power over me, no sway, and I have no fear or anxiety.
“I don’t think so, Alden. In fact, I look forward to explaining to the committee at the bank why I won’t do business with you. Maybe I’ll start with telling Bert all about it.”
“And make yourself look foolish?”
“And make you look like the dishonest unethical swindler that you are.”
“Come now, you exaggerate. All is fair in love and business, isn’t it?”
I stand with my arms folded and say nothing, waiting for him to tell me what his big incentive is, but I’m determined not to say another word until he does. He pauses and I’m not sure if he’s hesitating or going for drama, but he finally says what he has in mind.
“I hear you have a big secret, something you’ve kept from everyone, that you would never want to be made public, especially not at the bank. Not with your pride.”
“I already told you I’m willing to tell the bank about our past deal—”
“Not that secret,” he says.
And then I go cold, but I stay steely, holding my back ramrod straight. I lift my chin and wait him out again.
“Your secret about being adopted,” he says. “That’s the thing I promise not to talk about if you handle the loan for me.”
I pause, waiting for something to register. My heart hammers, but not because I’m upset, or afraid or worried. My heart goes wild with excitement because I can handle this. I can handle Alden Jones, the swindling lawyer who stole my real estate investment business from me.
“That’s it?” I unfold my arms and roll my eyes.
His smug confident look, the one he usually wears, droops noticeably before he shores it up again.
“I know you’re a private person. You never told anyone about our last deal. I know you don’t want it spread around that you’re adopted. I’m sure I can find out something about why it’s such a big secret. Probably some good dirt to be had there somewhere.”
